Bail was set Tuesday at $1.5 million for the Maplewood man accused of killing his girlfriend's 18-month-old daughter.
Leb M. Meak, 35, made his first appearance in Ramsey County District Court wearing a red jumpsuit, a sign that he is being segregated from the county jail's general population, which wears orange.
Meak is charged with one count of second-degree murder in the beating death of Genesis Xiong, who was not his child.
Police were called Feb. 12 to Meak's house in the 2500 block of Barclay Street where they found the girl unresponsive. There were indications that she had suffered physical abuse multiple times, and could have also been sexually abused, according to the criminal complaint.
Meak told police that the girl had been living with him for the past 2½ weeks because of his girlfriend's work schedule. He allegedly told police he "roughed her up a little bit" and had shaken her that day.
According to the complaint, the girl was extensively bruised, suffered multiple internal and external injuries, and had semen on her genital area.
The girl's mother left Tuesday's hearing without commenting. Meak's next hearing is scheduled for March 10.
Court records show that in 2011, Meak pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for choking a different girlfriend, leaving marks and bruises on her neck. He was sentenced to a year of probation. The conviction was dismissed after he successfully completed his sentence.
